Supply door for wash wheels



Oct. '19., 1926. 1,603,490' I w. o. OLSON v SUPPLY noon FOR WASH WHEELS Filed March 23, 1925 Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED ,STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

WERNER O. OLSON, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY. ASSIGNOR TO ASHER MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OI DELAWARE.

SUYPLY DOOR FOR WASH WHEELS.

Application filed March 23, 1925. Serial No. 17,748.

This invention relates to supply doors for wash wheels or as they are more commonly known, washing machines of the type wherein a pair of coaxial horizontal cylinders are provided, the outer one being stationary and the inner one rotatable or oscillatable therein.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a novel and improved supply door for wash wheels.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a supply door for wash wheels which is self-washing, that is, has its inner surface when closed exposed to the spray of the liquid within the outer cylinder.

Another object of the present invention consists in the provision of a supply door for wash wheels arranged on a horizontal axis intermediate its circumferential width in order that when open, the lower portion may project a material distance within the outer cylinder or drum to prevent supply materials from falling on the edge of the main door opening.

Still another object of the present invention consists in the provision of a supply door for wash wheels which will remain both open and closed without the use of weights, springs, latches or other holding means. 7

A further object of the present invention consists in the provision of a supply door for wash wheels which is associated with a handle bar which is to be normally used for opening and closing the main door of the outer cylinder.

In the accompanying drawing and following specification there'is disclosed by way of example only, a single embodiment of the present invention, but it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art, in the size, shape, arrangement, proportion and location of the various parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawings: Y r

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wash wheel provided with supply doors constructed in accordance with the vention; and

Fig.2 is a partial transverse section thereof on line 22 of Figure 1.

present in- Wash Wheels or washing machines of the larger sizes, such as the power driven types used in laundries, commonl comprise a horizontal stationary outer cy 'nder or drum and a central inner cylinderor drum journalled for rotation or oscillation therein under the action of a suitable source of power. The inner cylinder is usuall perforated and the outer cylinder is a apted to be watertight and contain a supply of water and washing materials, in which the clothing to be washed is agitated by means of the movable inner cylinder in which itis contained. The outercylinder is rovided, in most cases, with large sli ing doors to gain access to the doors in the inner cylinder in order to fill and empty it. During the washing process it becomes necessary to add soap, washing powder and later bluing to the water contained in the outer drum or cylinder, and since this water is being splashed and agitated considerably, it is not advisable to open the larger doors, and it has therefore been proposed tov provide in these doors supply openings of various sorts through which these materials may be introduced while the inner cylinder remains in motion. It is often the case that safety devices are required or pro- I vided which necessitate the stopping of the,

inner cylinder before the large doors can be opened. The present invention contemplates the provision of a novel suppl door whichfwill best be understood by re erence to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings, illustrative of a well known type of wash wheel, 10 represents the stationary outer cylinder formed of any suitable material, but as here shown, composed of wooden stays 11' suitably banded together as at 12 and provided with any desirable form of supporting means, such as the feet 13. Within this outer or stationary cylinder is mounted for rotation or oscillas tion, in any desirable manner, (not shown) the inner cylinder or drum 14, also preferably formed of wood. In the particular maing and closing the maindoor.

chine disclosed, there are provided two large sliding doors 15 and 16 which are formed of thin sheet metal curved to conform to the shape of the drum and sliding circumferentially of the drum between the band 12 and the end bands or guides such as 17.

Each of the large or main doors 15 and 16 is provided with a supply door or shutter such as 18 formed of sheet metal of substantially the same thickness as that of the main door. The supply door operates in a sub stantially rectangular opening in the "main door, reinforced at the top by a bar 19 and at the bottom by a bar 20. To additionallystrengthen the lower edge of the door which is somewhat weakened by having the metal removed from this opening, the angle bar 21 has one of its arms secured to the inner face near the lower edge of the door with the other arm projecting laterally inward to form an abutment which engages against the metal lining 22 of the opening in the outer drum 10, as best shown in Figure 2, and forms a stop to limit the movement of the large door to closedposition. The lower edge of the door projects slightly over the lining, as shown at 23, toform a watertight joint.

The circumferential edges of the supply door opening are reinforced by the bases or feet 24 of the handle bar brackets 25, which feet extend the full length of these circum' ferential edges and are securely riveted to the metal of the main door. They support between them and above the surface of the door, the handle bar 26 which can con-veniently be grasped by the operator for open- This handle bar is preferably'made' in channel form, as shown best in Figure 2, and is fastened by any desirable means to the vertical sectors 27 projecting from the bases 24 of the brackets. These brackets are provided near the surface of the main door with the bosses 28 adapted to receive the hinge pins 29 of the supply door which are firmly secured in the blocks 30 riveted or otherwise secured to the supply door at a point intermediatefits circumferential width.

The hinge pins are so positioned on the sup ly door that its lower end projects wit in and its upper end without the main 1 door, as shown in full lines in Figure 2, so

that when in its closed position the lower,

end abuts against and inside the lower end of the main door where it is reinforced by, bar 20 and forms a'watertight fit by this overlap, whereas the u per end of the supply door overlaps, on t e outside, the material of the main door adjacentits reinforcing b'ar 19, thus providing a tight fit at this point.. The sectors 2'2 of the brackets fit closely against the ends of the supply door and insure that any leaka e which may take place around these ends Will .be drained Lack into the drum. When open the door assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and its upper edge fits within the rabbet 31 in the upper edge of the channel handle bar 26 which thus limits the amount of its opening. In a number of cities the safety code provides that. the opening shall be so small that the operator cannot place his hand within it. This is positively assured by the substantial handle bar 26 which forms an effective stop for the supply doorm It may be found desirable to provide a handle or knob 32 for convenience in opening and closing the supply door.

It will be observed by the dotted line position of the door when opened, that the lower edge 33 projects a substantial distance within the drum and prevents any material, which is introduced through the opening, from dropping upon the reinforcing strip 22 and accumulating there. When the door is closed its position is inverted so that any material which may have stuck to it will fall off, and since the door forms a part of the main door and conforms to its curvature. it issubjected to the spray and splashing of the liquid within the outer drum whose level is, of course, below that of the lower edge of the main door, so that its inner surface will be well washed and none of the washing compounds will stick to it. These two last mentioned features are of considerable importance for it is found that certain of the chemicals used in the washing" process neutralize each other, if they become mixed. For instance, it has been found that'a large part of the bluing introduced into the drum, into fresh water of course, will be neutralized by any of the soap or alkaline washing compounds which may stick to the inner face of the supply door or lodge upon the upper edge 22 of the opening in the drum. The gosition of the hinge pins 29 of. the supply oor is such that when in the open or closed position, its center of gravity is lower than when it passes vertically over the hinge pins so that it will therefore remain either in the open or closed osition without the assistance of any springs, latches, Wei hts or other holding means. The sectors 2 close the ends of what may be considered a hopinclude-the sectors 27, supports for the bandlebar 26, and the bosses for the hinge pins 29 can, be used for any length supply door opening, the only change necessary being in the length of the handle bar and in the door member, each of which being made of Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wash wheel, in combination a drum having an opening therein, a main door slidable to close said opening and having a supply opening therein, a shutter for said supply opening and means pivoting said shutter to said door intermediate the length of said shutter whereby the lower edge thereof protrudes through said supply opening when said shutter is opened.

2. In a wash wheel, in combination an outer casing having an opening therein, a main door adapted'to close said opening and having a supply opening therein in an inclined surface, a shutter pivoted on a hori' zontal axis to close said supply opening, pivots for said shutterbelow the center of gravity thereof but above the bottom, whereby said shutter will remain open or closed, the lower edge of the shutter being,

within and the upper edge without the main door at all times.

3. In a Wash wheel in combination, an outer horizontal cylinder having a filling opening above the horizontal center thereof, a

main door slidable circumferentially to close supply opening therein, a supply door adapted to close said opening, sald door being pivoted to the main door ona horizontal axis above the lower edge of said supply door, whereby upon opening said ,lower edge will enter said supply opening and extend above and over the lower edge of the opening in the main cylinder for the purpose described.

5. In a wash wheel, in combination, an

outer horizontal cylinder having a filling opening above the horizontal center thereof,

a main door slidable circumferentially to close said opening and having a supply opening therein, a shutter for said supply opening pivoted to said main door below the center of gravity of said shutter, a handle bar for use in operating said main door,

said handlebar extending parallel to said shutter and servingas a stop to limit its opening.

6. In a wash wheel, in combination, an'

outer horizontal cylinder having a filling opening above the horizontal center thereof, a main door slidable circumferentially to close said opening and having a supply opening therein, a shutter" for said supply opening pivoted to said m'ain'door below the center of gravity of said shutter, a handle barvfor use in operating said main door, said handle bar extending parallel to said shutter and serving as a stop to limit its opening, brackets supporting said handle bar from said main door and bases thereon reinforcing the edges of said supply opening.

7. In a wash wheel, in combination, an outer horizontal cylinder having a fillin opening above the horizontal center thereo a main door slidable circumferentially to close said opening and /having a supply v opening therein, a' shutter for said supply opening pivoted to said main door below the center of gravity of said shutter, a handle bar for use in operating s'aid main door, said handle bar extending parallel to said shutter and serving as a stop to limit its opening, brackets supporting said handle bar from said main door and pivot mountings on said brackets for said shutter.

8. In a wash wheel, in, combination, an outer horizontal cylinder having a fillin opening above the horizontal center thereo a main door slidable circumfer'entially to close said opening and having a supply opening therein, a shutter for said supply opening pivoted to said main door below the center of gravity of said shutter, a handle-bar for use in operating said main door, said handle bar so spaced from said door as to form a limiting stop for the upper edge of said shutter.

9. In a wash wheel, in combination, an outer horizontal cylinder having a 'fillin openingabove the horizontal center thereo g a main door slidable circumferentially to close said opening and having a supply opening therein, a shutter for .said supply opening pivpted to said main door below the center of gravity of said shutter, brackopening.

10. In a wash wheel, in combination, an outer vhorizontal cylinder having a fillin opening abovethe horizontal centerthereo a main door slidable circumferentially to close said opening and having a supply opening therein, a shutter for said supply opening pivoted to said main'door below the center of gravity of said shutter, reinforcing means for the edges of the supply opening, said pivot means for said shutter being so positioned that the upper ed e of the shutter overlaps the outside of sai door and the lower edge the inside to form a water forcing means for the edges of the supply tight joint. opening, said pivot means for said shutter 11. In a wash Wheel, in combination, an being so positioned that the upper edge of outer horizontal cylinder having a filling the shutter overlaps the outside of said door 6 opening above the horizontal center thereof, and the lower edge the inside adjacent said 5 a main door slidable cireumferen tially to reinforcements. close said opening and having a supply In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my opening therein, a shutter for said supply signature. opening pivoted to said main door below 10 the center of gravity of said shutter, rein- WERNER O. OLSON. 

